2 weeks beyond surgery still hungry 2,200 calories a day what's wrong?

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

Thanks so much for the update. I am so glad to hear you aren't in danger of dying anytime soon. I hope they can find a solution for you at your follow-up appointment.

Keep us updated.

[winklie 518]

@@Kimberly Bouche-Perez

A, it's an endoscope.

B. "RUN don't Walk to the Hospital and DEMAND an Endoscopy to measure the output port from the pouch to the intestine. I think 10mm is the upper limit size. If it is any larger, boom there is your problem, sadly, reducing the size of this opening, means, quite literally redoing that part of the surgery, and now there is scar tissue to deal with.

C. You are a big guy, use that. Hell I do all the time, I have no problem intimidating someone. My surgeon was a Commander in the US Navy, I was a mere Sgt, I see him as an officer, and even refer to him as sir out of habit. He is an outstanding surgeon, who as far as I can tell did a fantastic job. I would never intimidate him, but when my nurses decided (due to low heart rate) to alarm my bed if I got up, we played a game. I got up, they came running, then they called Security, now THAT was fun. This little guy, sat next to my bed and acted all tough. I decided it was time to piss the nurses off and started to get up, the guard sprang from his chair, to stop, me, one wrist lock and an arm bar later, with him on the ground, it was a sh*t show. Funny, the head of security came in and I was like, is that the best you got? They decided to turn the alarm off.....

GO GET WELL!!!

[Veronica_mm 87]

Not normal. Your eating like you didn't have surgery at all. I think it's physically impossible to do that and not be in pain from being full. If I were you I would demand to know the awnser.

[Dallas Powell 23]

Thanks Guys and Gals. I will make sure that they do the endoscope thing. I'm thinking I need to have that done by someone else. Maybe drive to Wake Forest or Duke or somewhere good outside of Roanoke VA. The surgeon I had is considered the best around here. And quite frankly I am scared now to have him do anything considering the fact that not only me but my GF has the same kind of issues with hers, just not to the degree that I do.

LOL that's some funny stuff Winklie!

[winklie 518]

I found it funny, I assure you the hospital security staff did not. It was funny at the time though. While I got the guy on the ground in double submission locks, I taunted him.... a lil. When the nurses came in and saw this sight, they called some code, and security, like 10 of them showed up. I started tearing into each one verbally. Then the boss man showed, realized I was too big to secure, asides from restraints, which I did not meet the threshold for, as the first guard attacked me, not the other way. And he realized, leaving 2 or 3 guards in my room to monitor me, would go badly if I decided to get out of bed again, as they would have probably hurt me.

So, they left me to my own devices.

Next session i'll tell you about how to hack your morphine pump, lol.

[gpmed 623]

@@Dallas Powell Based on what you're telling us, your surgeon sounds like a fucknut. You have two academic medical centers in Virginia with incredible programs -- UVA and VCU. Are either of those a possibility for you?

Edited October 27, 2015 by gpmed

[winklie 518]

@@gpmed

I completely agree on the Fucktard surgeon. Look for the silver lining though, get to a center of excellence and have fixed whatever Dr.IHaveATurnForABrain fu*ked up, get a lawyer, sue, and the KEY to winning that case, is that you have DOCUMENTATION that you gave the aforementioned Dr. a chance to fix his mistake (KEEP CELL PHONE RECORDS TO HIS OFFICE and get ANYTHING you can WRITTEN from him, even if it is a copy of your chart at your next visit) Courts look at malpractice this way, anyone can make a mistake, especially in a hectic surgery setting where life and death decisions are made in split seconds. What a court will NOT tolerate, and what they pay BIG bucks for is pain and suffering and Punitive damages when you HAVE GIVEN THE DOCTOR A CHANCE OR MANY TO FIX HIS MISTAKE. Courts are very reasonable places where outcomes often times are determined long before a trial, such as your case. Your surgeons insurance would settle, as you have a problem, you have been vocal about it, yet the surgeon refuses to fix it. That is not a reasonable action, and a court would admonish such a surgeon, perhaps to the point of sending a letter to the States medical board recommending the revocation of his license to practice medicine.

In addition, the burden of proof lies on you. Look up your states laws on recording phone calls, if you can record them, use your cell and any of the billion conversation recording tools, and record you pleading with the Surgeon or PA to help you and fix your problem, the pain, etc.

Why am I so evil? I am not. However we have a legal system in place specifically for instances like this. What is important is two things, first and foremost that you and your GF get repaired. Secondly, and this is where the law comes into play, you prevent this from happening again to the next guy.

My Mother is a retired Lawyer, I grew up around this, in fact I probably could have been a really good lawyer if chose that option, but that is another story.

GO GET FIXED!

[Dallas Powell 23]

UVA isn't too far away. Wake Forest in NC is close as well. Not sure which is better. My surgeon is an associate professor at Virginia Tech.

Yea I guess I need to set an appointment with him and document everything like crazy. Giving him an opportunity to fix his mistake.

I have been communicating with his assistant quite a bit. Nothing but denial which is what I expected. And what I expect him to say. Here's her answer to the pain and asking where all of the food could possibly be going as well as telling her that I had a CAT Scan at another hospital. I was asking if there is an afternoon time due to the fact that I am up all night every night until 5am as a result of unassociated chronic pain. One of the main reasons I had the surgery as my pain specialist said that it will likely get better if I get the weight off. Looks like he really doesn't give a S*** about that though.

"Dallas,
I appreciate that you are researching and I am glad you are counting your calories. Please take the things you research and read in the support forums with a grain of salt. I do not feel you have a fistula or a leak. But, I would like you to speak with Dr. Lucktong to see if he feels there is anything else that should be done for you. I also feel like the "lump" and pain is healing. But, again I would like you to see Dr. Lucktong for a second opinion. Unfortunately, no that is the only available appt he has was Nov 10th at 9:15am. Can you make this appt?"

[Cervidae 2,389]

The fact that you're able to eat that much so soon after surgery has nothing to do with the opinions of this forum. It's like eating something with 30 grams of sugar after surgery... It is never a good or healthy idea. I'm sure they are just trying to cover their asses. But you went through all that work, risking death, dealing with pain and recovery... That can't just be swept under the rug and their mistakes can't be ignored just because they don't want a lawsuit on their hands. I wish you and your gf the best of luck!

[gpmed 623]

That's nuts. I agree with taking some of the things you read on forums with a grain of salt, but you have enough people here saying that being able to eat 2200 calories a day two weeks after surgery is so abnormal it's unbelievable.

I can't understand how anyone who is part of a bariatric care team could hear that and not think something is REALLY wrong. Only your nut seemed to have the right reaction at first when she said she hoped she misheard you.

Also, your surgeon saying he had a hard time with your surgery and then your gf's surgery because of "her build" sounds weird. Logically, is it more likely these two random cases both happen to be difficult or that your surgeon isn't very skilled? Plus if you're a bariatric surgeon, many patients' builds are going to be part of the challenge is the surgery. Duh.

I think it's good you're documenting. I'd be scared for you to allow him to perform surgery on you again though.

I think seeking a second opinion at an academic medical center, where you'll find the most skilled and knowledgable surgeons in the country, might be a good move. I don't know if Wake Forest is an AMA, but UVA or Duke would be good choices.

Edited October 27, 2015 by gpmed

[Veronica_mm 87]

"Dallas,

I appreciate that you are researching and I am glad you are counting your calories. Please take the things you research and read in the support forums with a grain of salt. I do not feel you have a fistula or a leak. But, I would like you to speak with Dr. Lucktong to see if he feels there is anything else that should be done for you. I also feel like the "lump" and pain is healing. But, again I would like you to see Dr. Lucktong for a second opinion. Unfortunately, no that is the only available appt he has was Nov 10th at 9:15am. Can you make this appt?"

hmmm, maybe just a simple response from you,"my lawyer will be in contact, he has a doctor that he wants me to see regarding this anyway." That way IF they did make a mistake, they would want to catch and fix the problem first. Somthing not right. 3 lean cuisines at one sitting is definitely not normal. Hope u find the awnsers.

Then again, Nov 10th is little more than a week away. Not to bad. But they should see you right of way IMO

Edited October 28, 2015 by Veronica_mm

[Dallas Powell 23]

Exactly! Too many people here saying that it is not normal. And I feel very confident that the surgeon will say everything is normal. I guess I need to go see him and hear it first, then if he says what I suspect I need to go get a second opinion from someone good.

Fortunately as of now I am losing weight. Down 16 lbs 3 weeks later. If I don't get it fixed though I think it's going to be a real battle trying to get to 210 or so where I want to be. And I likely won't keep it off because historically I haven't been able to indefinitely stay on a diet.

It's real irritating though and if I drag this out into next year that means another big deductible for the insurance company.

[winklie 518]

If you opt to go to the November 10th meeting, bring a voice recorder, place it on the table, and explain you are recording this appointment at the request of counsel. That will put the fear of god in the surgeon. Force him to explain, in graphic detail what "difficulty making my pouch" means. If he tries to shrug it off, or talk over you, or around you, note the voice recorder and that what he says is admissible in court.

Two reasons for the voice recorder, first, duh, lawsuit. Second and probably at this time more important, for you to bring to the next surgeon and say, "here is what the last tool said" it may lead to them understanding whatever may have happened without having to do exploratory surgery.

Oh and those papers you signed very near the time of surgery, you know the ones that supposedly indemnify the surgeon "This surgical procedure is not designed to treat any specific condition" blah blah. That is how the surgeon will try to hide when the malpractice suit begins. He'll say he promised you nothing. The judge will toss that, as the surgeon did indeed provide a service that he was well compensated for, you, as a customer has a reasonable expectation that said surgery will provide the benefits clearly explained to my by the surgeon. Remember the only way in America that you can sign your rights away is to join the Military.

As I see it, if you do decide to go down the legal road, here is what you would need to do. First give your current surgeon a chance to fix his mistake, again voice recorder is critical, if he refuses to speak with a recorder on, ask him why? It is your right to record the conversation. If his lips even move, note to him, that HIS office records EVERYTHING that happens when you are there, why is there no reciprocity? Second, if he does go on record, and says, everything is fine, get the explanation on tape about what was so hard about making your pouch. Request a copy of your records before you leave the office. Seek new surgeon. Play the voice recording, and show him the OR records. And get fixed. This is known as "The Win". You are not going to get millions of dollars, but a couple hundred grand for pain and suffering as well as punitive damages is reasonable. More if the surgery to repair the prior surgeon's work is especially difficult, and showing errors.

Start the process of seeking the best medical malpractice lawyer in your state. Yes, state. Never limit yourself to local. In fact that can be bad, as the closer in proximity to one another the Doctor and Lawyer are the better the chance they have crossed paths before.

Anyways, /rant off

[itstimealready 180]

Was your surgery in the US? I have heard of people getting other kinds of operations where they cut you open and stitch you back but they don't actually do the operation! That just came to mind hearing your story.

[Dub 10,033]

Man......I really hope you get this sorted.

You've got some strong advocates appearing in this thread already who have nailed down the need to get this resolved.

You mentioned Duke earlier in the thread.

If that is a possibility for you then I would HIGHLY recommend Duke. Stellar medical facility in every way, shape and form.

It's not fair what has happened to you and they can hopefully get this sorted out. You are going to have to be persistent as hell. It's understandable that you are beyond tired of this whole deal. Hang in there a little longer and fight to get it resolved.